These sides have occupied the 3rd and 4th spots in the last couple of seasons, with Leverkusen the ones to get third last term and earn automatic Champions League qualification, though Monchengladbach cruised to success in midweek against Young Boys to secure their spot in the group stages. The fact that former Leverkusen man Christoph Kramer is the man tasked with replacing Granit Xhaka at Monchengladbach gives this fixture an added edge, with the midfielder set to line up here.

Monchengladbach have turned Borussia-Park into something of a fortress in recent times as they’ve had a W25-D4-L5 record there in the last couple of seasons, leading at the break 18 times and winning 16 by more than one goal. Their record when hosting top-five sides over that period is also excellent, with five wins in eight matches, though they failed to keep a clean sheet in any of these four games last season as three saw more than three goals.

Conversely, Leverkusen’s record when travelling to top-five teams is just W2-D1-L9 since 2013/14 as they were behind at half-time in six of these games, but they did manage to score in seven. As a result we’re backing Monchengladbach to win and both teams to score, as was the case in eight of their 13 home wins last term.